Israel PM to discuss Iran on rare Japan visit
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday headed to Japan on a rare visit expected to focus on bilateral economic ties as well as efforts to halt Iran's controversial nuclear drive.
During the three-day trip -- the first official visit by an Israeli premier to Japan in 10 years -- Olmert will hold talks with Emperor Akihito, his counterpart Yasuo Fukuda and Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.
The visit will take place under tight security following the killing of a senior Hezbollah leader in Damascus two weeks ago. The Shiite group blamed the killing on Israel, which denied any involvement.
The Israeli premier, a former finance minister, will be accompanied by businessmen and officials seeking to bolster commercial ties between the Jewish state and the world's second largest economy.
Olmert will also press his hosts to stop buying Iranian-produced oil in order to keep economic and diplomatic pressure on Tehran, a government officials said.
Israel accuses its Islamic archfoe of working to develop an atomic bomb under the guise of a civilian nuclear programme, a claim Tehran has repeatedly denied.
The United Nations atomic watchdog on Friday said in its latest report on Iran that it could still not confirm if its atomic drive was peaceful, a move which Israel said underscores the need for further sanctions against Tehran.
Britain, France and the United States are hoping a new UN Security Council sanctions resolution can be passed in the coming week following the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Japan, which depends almost exclusively on the Middle East for its oil needs, maintains friendly ties with Arab countries and Iran.
Olmert will also discuss the renewed peace talks with the Palestinians and efforts to bolster president Mahmud Abbas's West Bank government, the official said.
Japan, which has played an increasing role in Middle East peace efforts in recent years, is spearheading a project to build an agro-industrial park to bring jobs to Palestinians in the West Bank.
The initiative is part of a four-way framework started by Japan that includes Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan.
The two sides are also expected to discuss the possibility of direct commercial flights between Japan and Israel.
The visit "will further strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and the State of Israel, and is important in the context of Japan's contribution to the Middle East Peace Process," Japan's foreign ministry said in a statement.
Olmert's trip to Japan is the first by an Israeli prime minister since Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Asian nation in August 1997.
It coincides with a visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who will be in Japan on Wednesday and Thursday. The two officials might meet in Tokyo, according to Israeli media.
Israeli media, meanwhile, expressed concern the visit might be affected by an incident last month in which a Japanese peace activist was wounded when Israeli security forces fired rubber bullets at a protest against Israel's West Bank separation barrier.
Kaoru Kishida, 43, said he was watching the demonstration at Bilin on January 25 when he was struck by three rubber bullets, with one hitting him in his left eye. He fears he might permanently lose his sight in that eye.
AFP
